WORLD FINANCE UPDATE:
The Australian dollar has lost ground during the overnight session as a siege in Sydney unfolded and oil prices struggled to regain recent losses.
At 0630 AEDT on Tuesday, the local unit was trading at 82.19 US cents, down from 82.49 cents on Monday.
And the Australian share market looks set to open lower following falls on international markets as oil prices struggle to regain recent losses and concern over global crude demand persists.
At 0645 AEDT on Tuesday, the December share price index futures contract was down 32 points at 5,145.
ELSEWHERE:
WASHINGTON - US industrial production shifted into higher gear in November, with factories pumping out more goods, especially car and energy products.
MOSCOW - The Russian rouble has suffered a mini-crash, falling eight per cent in a single day despite a policy of regular interventions by the central bank.
BUENOS AIRES - Stocks in Argentina have plunged more than five per cent, pulled down by plummeting oil company shares.
LONDON - BT Group, the British telecoms and TV company, says it is in exclusive talks to purchase mobile operator EE for STG12.5 billion ($A22.82 billion).
HOUSTON - Apache is selling its stake in two liquefied natural gas projects to Woodside Petroleum Ltd for $US2.75 billion ($A2.98 billion).
NEW YORK - Alcoa is buying a Germany titanium and aluminium structural castings company, Tital, to help expand its global aerospace business.
PARIS - Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has confirmed its order of 55 long-haul A330Neo passenger planes from Airbus at a list price of $US15 billion ($A16.23 billion), in what is the biggest single order for the line of aircraft.
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